Two Yale Boats Qualify For Grand Final

GOLD RIVER, Calif. - Yale had two boats earn a spot in grand finals on the second day of the NCAA Team Rowing Championships on Lake Natoma. The varsity eight, the defending NCAA champion, knocked off No. 1 ranked and undefeated California en route to winning its semifinal heat with a time of 6:35.16, and the varsity four qualified with a second-place finish in the repechage in a time of 7:38.04. The Bulldogs' second varsity eight placed fourth in its repechage and will race in the petite final.

"Overall it was a good day," said Yale head coach Will Porter. "We've put ourselves in good position."

Brown, the defending team champion, Washington and California each have all three of their boats in grand finals, while Yale, Virginia and Michigan State qualified two boats.

Yale's varsity eight led from wire-to-wire, finishing more than three seconds ahead of second-place California. Stanford edged Radcliffe for third place to earn the final spot in the grand final.

"We came in knowing it would be a very tough race," said Tess Gerrand, who sits in the No. 6 seat. "We performed well, but it was hard, and tomorrow is going to be just as hard."

"The four is doing a very good job," Porter said. "Making the grand final is a tremendous accomplishment."

Yale races Michigan State, Virginia, Washington, California and Brown in the grand final on Sunday at 10:15 a.m. PST.

After a disappointing heat on Friday, Yale's second varsity performed much better in its repechage, finishing with a time of 6:56.01. The Bulldogs had a slim lead on Virginia after 500 meters, but fell to third after 1,000 meters and was fourth at the 1,500-meter mark. Virginia won with a time of 6:47.83. California (6:48.87) was second followed by Washington State (6:52.89). Radcliffe (6:57.72) was fifth.